EXFO has officially launched the QA-805/QA-813 QualityAssurer, the market’s only solution capable of simulating the load of a converged LTE and IMS network on a single platform. This latest EXFO innovation helps wireless network operators better meet their LTE/IMS deployment challenges, namely reducing CAPEX related to testing hardware.

With the booming growth in demand for wireless services, global wireless network operators are faced with the combined challenge of activating services at a fast pace, while maintaining a high quality of service (QoS) and experience (QoE). Therefore, they are looking for efficient ways to simulate millions of subscribers making voice calls and accessing various wireless services, in order to verify that the service—such as VoLTE—can be provided at the expected level of quality. Since LTE networks will begin with a small footprint and coexist with legacy networks, testing interworking and mobility between LTE and 2G/3G/CDMA networks is crucial for successful LTE deployments. The QA-805 and QA-813 QualityAssurer systems can simulate all of these domains, as well as their interworking.

The latest additions to the QualityAssurer family of products, the QA-805 and QA-813 build on the success of the widely deployed QA-604 and EAST simulators. In addition to reducing CAPEX, the QA-805 and QA-813 enable faster configuration and execution of tests, as well as fast analysis of test results—hence a shorter test cycle and faster time to market. Providing a single point of control and analysis for IMS and LTE, these integrated simulator platforms can be used throughout the network lifecycle: by network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) for lab and deployment testing, and by mobile network operators (MNOs) to perform capacity planning, replicate network conditions and make sure subscribers get the services and quality that they expect.

“The new QA-805/QA-813 QualityAssurer can simulate triple the volume of subscribers compared to the next best offering in the market today,” said Matti Palomäki, Vice-President of EXFO’s Wireless Division. “With this launch, EXFO positions itself as the only provider of simulator solutions capable of handling the high traffic load of the converged LTE/IMS network on a single integrated platform.”